§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates of each meeting of the European Council of Ministers since 1973 which was attended by himself or junior Scottish Office Ministers, specifying the policy areas under consideration in each case. [33709]
§ Mr. MacdonaldRecords of the meetings attended by Scottish Office Ministers between 1973 and 1987 were not collated and the information could be provided only382W at disproportionate cost. The information for 1988 onwards is as follows:
Year Scottish Office Minister attendance Policy area of Council 1988 5 All Fisheries Councils 1989 4 Three Fisheries and one Regional Policy Council 1990 4 All Fisheries Councils 1991 5 Four Fisheries and one Agriculture Council 1992 8 Five Fisheries, two Agriculture and one Education Council 1993 8 Four Fisheries, one joint Environment/Transport, one joint Foreign Affairs/Agriculture, one Agriculture and one Justice and Home Affairs Council 1994 8 Six Fisheries, one Regional Policy and one Justice and Home Affairs Council 1995 7 Four Fisheries, one Agriculture, one Environment and one Justice and Home Affairs Council 1996 15 Eight Agriculture, five Fisheries and two Environment Councils 1997 10 Four Agriculture, three Fisheries, two Education and one Environment Council